Heating apparatus for a printing press



Jan. 14, 1969 w. c. HERBERT, JR 3,421,228

HEATING APPARATUS FOR A PRINTING PRESS Filed June 28, 1966 KEN 54 FIG. 2. 2 Y? a f s 50 Y-I4 Q 46 Q 4 i5; 44 :I 3a 42 4 ,5 a 1 :I06 3 u M -26 iii- -----T'l j I I 196' L98 mvsmon /76 (72 1 WILLIAM (LHERBERT. JR.

1' Y a 74 @25 (I02 m/M ATTORNEYS,

United States Patent 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A heating apparatus for a printing press in which a heater is positioned in heat exchanging relative to the printed material transported by a carrier and the heating area is shielded by shielding means.

This invention relates generally to a heating apparatus for a printing press and, more particularly, pertains to a heater which is adapted 'for use in conjunction with an offset printing press to quickly and efiiciently dry the ink on the material printed by the press.

Conventional offset printing presses generally do not contain heating facilities for drying and setting the ink on the material printed by the press. Consequently, nonoffset spray powders are used extensively in such machines to accomplish the desired results. However, this procedure is extremely time-consuming and uneconomical and it leaves the printed sheets of material with a powdered surface. Additionally, the use of spray powder necessitates long wash-ups and, further, requires periodic cleaning of the printing press to remove the excess powder that accumulates over the press and the surrounding area.

Accordingly, the desideratum of the present invention is to provide a heating apparatus that is compatible for use in existing printing presses of the offset type for efficiently drying and setting the printing ink on the sheets of printed material.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a heating apparatus for an offset printing press that greatly reduces the need for offset spray powder thereby reducing wash-ups and thereby leaving the sheets of printed material with a substantially powder free surface.

Another object and feature of the present invention resides in the novel details of construction which provide a heating apparatus for an offset printing press that is easy to install and which is economical to use and service.

Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a portion of an offset printing press utilizing a heating apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention, as seen from the side of the press;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the heating apparatus shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic circuit wiring diagram of the heating apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

As noted hereinabove, the heating apparatus of the present invention is adapted to be utilized in conjunction with an offset printing press. The end portion of such a printing press is illustrated in FIG. 1 and is designated generally by the numeral therein. A heating apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention is designated generally by the numeral 12 in FIGS. 1 and 2 and is adapted to be advantageously located between the last printing station (not shown) and the discharge end (similarly not shown) of the printing press 10.

More particularly, the printing press 10 includes opposed side walls 14 and 16, a front wall 18, and a top wall 20.

Patented Jan. 14, 1969 Located within the printing press 10 is a conveyor system 22 which transports the printed sheets of material from a printing station to the next succeeding station in the press. The conveyor system 22 is conventional in construction and comprises endless chains 30 which are positioned adjacent to the respective side walls 14 and 16 of the printing press. (Only one chain 30 is shown in the gures.)

The chains 30 are received about sprocket wheels at the ends of the conveyor system to form an upper run 26 and a lower run 28. The runs 26 and 28 are maintained in spaced relation to each other by an idler sprocket wheel 32. As is conventional in systems of this type, one of the end sprocket wheels is driven by an appropriate motor to cause the lower run 28 of the chain 30 to move in the direction indicated by an arrowhead 34.

Extending transversely between the chains 30 and connected thereto is a plurality of longitudinally spaced bars 29. Each of the bars 29 is provided with gripper fingers 31 which are adapted to grip the printed sheets of material. As the sheets are printed they are gripped by the fingers 31 on the bars 29 which are connected to the portion of the chain 30 forming the lower run 28. Thus, the sheets of printed material leaving the last printing station are carried upward therefrom by the lower run 28 of the conveyor system 22 in the direction of the arrow 34 to the discharge end of the press. Additionally, the rate of movement of the chains 30 causes the sheets to lie substantially within the plane of the chains.

The heating apparatus 12 includes a relatively thin rectangular heater panel 36 that is adapted to be positioned transversely and laterally between the upper run 26 and the lower run 28 of the conveyor system 22 by appropriate mounting means or facilities. Thus, as shown in FIG. 2, a lower bar 38 extends transversely between the side walls 14 and 16 of the printing press 10. Connected to the bottom of the panel 36 on each side thereof, are respective L-shaped brackets 38 and 40, the lower legs of which extend laterally in opposite directions. Respective U-shaped bolts 42 and 44 receive the bar 38 in the bights thereof and the legs of the U-shaped bolts 42 and 44 extend up through appropriate apertures in the respective brackets 38 and 40. Nuts 46 are threadedly received on the ends of the legs of the U-shaped bolts to secure the panel 36 on the bar 38.

The mounting facilities for the panel 36 further include right angled brackets 48 and 50. The brackets 48 and 50 are respectively connected to each upper side edge of the panel 36 with the upper legs of the brackets 48 and 50 respectively extending toward the side walls 16 and 14. Extending inwardly toward each other from the side walls 16 and 14 of the press are respective support plates 52 and 54. The support plates 52 and 54 are adapted to be connected to the respective brackets 48 and 50 to support the upper portion of the panel 36 and to maintain the panel in the desired position.

Accordingly, connected to and depending from the plates 52 and 54 are respective connecting members 56 and 58. These members are connected to the right angled brackets 48 and 50 by respective screws 60 and 62. However, the screws 60 and 62 only loosely connect the members 56 and 58 with the brackets 48 and 50 so that there is some degree of relative movement between the brackets and the associated members to provide for the expansion and desired adjustment of the panel 36 when it is heated. Since the panel 36 and the associated mounting elements fit transversely and laterally between the runs 26 and 28 of the conveyor system 22, it will be obvious that the heating apparatus 12 may easily be placed in existing printing presses with a minimum amount of labor. That is, the apparatus of the present invention does not require any redesigning of the operative portion of the existing printing presses since the panel 36 does not interfere with the operation of the conveyor system.

The panel 36 is operable to produce electromagnetic radiations in the infra-red region of the spectrum when it is energized. Any material passing through these radiations will be substantially instantaneously heated. Thus, the sheets of printed material which are carried under the panel 36 by the lower run 28 of the conveyor system 22 pass through what may be termed a heating zone. In order to contain the radiations produced by the panel 36 within the heating zone appropriate heat shields 64 and 66 are utilized.

Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 1, a heat shield 64 is connected to the front wall 18 of the printing press 10. The heat shield 64 is coextensive with the panel 36 and is positioned above the upper run 26 of the conveyor system 22. Connected below the lower run 28 of the conveyor system 22 is another heat shield 66. The heat shield 66 may be connected to the existing pan 68 in the printing press in any conventional manner. Accordingly, the heat shields 64 and 66 prevent the infra-red radiations produced by the panel 36 from passing beyond the heating zone, thereby increasing the efliciency of the heating apparatus of the present invention.

The heating panel 36 may be connected with a threephase source of potential through an appropriate control circuit by the respective leads 70, 72 and 74. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the panel 36 is schematically represented as heating dissipating elements or resistors 76, 78 and 80. The resistors 76, 78 and 80 are connected across the respective leads 70, 82 and 84 in a so-called delta connection, The leads 70, 72 and 74 are respectively connected to the output terminals 82, 84 and 86 of a solenoid actuated control switch 88. The terminals output 82, 84 and 86 are adapted to be connected to respective input terminals 90, 92 and 94 of the switch 88 by a movable core 96 having appropriate contacting elements thereon. The input terminals 90, 92 and 94 are respectively connected to a three-phase source of potential (not shown) by leads 98, 100 and 102. Movement of the core 96 is efiected by the energization of a solenoid winding 104 in the switch 88. The winding 104 is connected across the leads 98 and 100, through a switch 106, by a lead 108.

Normally, the core 96 is biased to the position shown in FIG. 3 wherein the panel 36 is deenergized. However, when it is desired to energize the panel 36, the winding 104 is energized 'by closing the switch 106. It is to be noted that the switch 106 may take the form of a conventional manually operated single-pole single-throw switch or it may be a timing switch which will periodically energize the coil 104 at desired intervals. When the winding 104 is energized, the core 96 moves down, there 'by connecting the output terminals 82, 84 and 86 with the respective input terminals 90, 92 and 94 to apply the three-phase source of potential directly to the heating elements 76, 78 and 80 through the leads 98, 70, 100, 72, and 102, 74.

Thus, the panel 36 will be energized thereby to produce electromagnetic radiations in the infra-red regions. These radiations will be directed upwardly and downwardly from the panel 36 upon the heat shields 66 and 64. Hence, the radiations will penetrate the sheets of printed material which are carried by'the lower run 28 of the conveyor system. Accordingly, the heating apparatus 12 causes the ink on the printed sheets of material to quickly dry and set, thereby to produce a finished product at the discharge end of the machine. Additionally, the heat shields 64 and 66 prevent the electromagnetic radiations from penetrating into the room and contain the heat produced by the panel 36 within the heating zone defined between the heat shields 64 and 66. At the end of a run, when it is desired to deenergize the panel 36, the solenoid winding 104 may be deenergized, thereby causing the core to disconnect the output terminals 82, 84 and 86 from the respective input terminals 90, 92 and 94.

Accordingly, a heating apparatus has been provided for an offset printing press which is compatible for use in existing printing presses and which eifectively and efficiently produces a heating zone to dry and set the ink on printed sheets of material as the sheets of material pass through the heating zone.

While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described herein, it will 'be obvious that numerous omissions, changes and additions may be made in such embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A heating apparatus for a printing press of the type having a carrier for transporting printed material from a printing station comprising a heater,

support means for mounting said heater adjacent to the carrier in heat exchanging relation to the printed material carried thereby,

said support means includes first means adapted to be connected to the printing press, bracket means connected to the printing press, bracket means connected to said heater, and second means for connecting said bracket means with said first means for relative movement with respect thereto provide for the expansion of said apparatus,

lead means connected to said heater for connecting said heater with a source of potential, and

shield means in spaced relation to said heater for containing the heat produced by said heater within a preselected heating area.

2. A heating apparatus as in claim 1,

wherein said heater comprises a panel for producing infra-red electromagnetic radiations to heat the printed material being transported by said carrier.

3. A heating apparatus for a printing press of the type having a carrier for transporting printed material from a printing station comprising a heater,

support means for mounting said heater adjacent to the carrier in heat exchanging relation to the printed material carried thereby,

lead means connected to said heater for connecting said heater with a source of potential,

shield means in spaced relation to said heater for containing the heat produced by said heater within a preselected heating area,

said shield means comprises a first heat shield positioned above said carrier in overlying relation to said heater to contain the heat produced by said heater within said preselected heating area,

and a second heat shield positioned below said carrier in underlying relation to said heater to contain the heat produced by said heater within said preselected heating area.

4. In an oifset printing press having an endless conveyor comprising an upper and a lower run for transporting printed material from a printing station;

heating apparatus for heating printed material carried by said conveyor to dry the ink on said material;

said heating apparatus comprising a heater, support means for mounting said heater transversely and laterally between said upper and lower runs, a control circuit, and lead means for connecting said heater with said control circuit for selectively energizing said heater.

5. In an offset printing press as in claim 4,

wherein said conveyor comprises a pair of transversely spaced chains, connected between said pair of chains and gripping means on each of said bars for gripping the sheets of printed material for transporting the sheets from a printing station to the discharge end of the machine.

5 6. In an offset printing press as in claim 4, wherein said heater comprises a relatively thin rectangular panel for producing electromagnetic radiations in the infra-red portion of the electromagnetic spectrum to heat the printed material being carried by said conveyor.

7. In an offset printing press as in claim 6, and a first heat shield mounted above said upper run in overlying relation to said panel, and a second heat shield mounted below said lower run in underlying relation to said panel, whereby said first and second heating shields contain the heat produced by said panel within a preselected heating area to produce a heating zone through which the printed sheets of material pass.

8. In an otfset printing press as in claim 4, wherein said 15 control circuit comprises a solenoid actuated switch movable between an open position to tie-energize said heater and a closed position for connecting a source of potential with said heater to energize said heater, and switch means for selectively energizing said solenoid switch to move said solenoid switch to the closed position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,040,998 5/1936 Jump 263-8 2,236,754 4/1941 Gurwick 101-4l6 3,187,162 6/1965 Hojo et a1. 34l

FOREIGN PATENTS 781,105 8/ 1957 Great Britain.

JOHN J. CAMBY, Primary Examiner. 

